Dec 1

Youth Soccer and Childhood Autism – Epidemics?

by Jerry O’Brien, PhD

Republished with permission from the 11/4/25 online edition of the “Philadelphia Psychology Network News.” Dr. Jerry O’Brien is the President of PSCP: The Philadelphia Psychology Network (https://philadelphiapsychology.org/) and previously was the Associate Director of the Anxiety and Agoraphobia Treatment Center.
When I was growing up in the 1950s and the 1960s, no one I knew played soccer. There were no youth soccer teams or leagues, no soccer camps. Not much soccer was televised, except once every four years during the World Cup.

Over a period of 30 years starting in 1994, participation in organized youth soccer expanded greatly. The number of youth players increased by 23% between 2018 to 2023 alone (1). Team soccer is now the number one sport among American youth (2).

What was responsible for the rapid increase in soccer participation? Was there an epidemic of some type? Hardly. Multiple factors contributed to the tremendous rise in youth soccer. These included the 1994 FIFA World Cup being played in the U.S. for the first time, the low initial costs to playing soccer, improved equipment, training and coaching, development of formal leagues and improved fields, and cultural factors. Some experts estimate that 1 in 4 American youth currently play soccer.

What does this have to do with autism? Autism displayed a similar rapid increase in its numbers from the late 1990s to the present. Some have described this as an “epidemic.” But there are more straightforward explanations. Like youth soccer, increased interest, knowledge, and infrastructure contributed to greater attention, diagnosis of, and services for youth with autism and their families. The criteria for a diagnosis of autism were expanded on several occasions, resulting in much larger percentages of children receiving the diagnosis (3, 4). More mental health clinicians received specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of autism. Non-profit organizations like Autism Speaks (founded in 2005) support advocacy, research, services, and inclusiveness for individuals with autism. Changes in education policies provided guarantees for all children with disabilities to have access to appropriate educational resources and many parents sought such services for their children.

The causes of autism are complex and multiple and include “genetic, environmental, and other factors that influence risk” (3). Research continues with the goals of determining the causes and most appropriate treatments and services for individuals on the autism “spectrum.” Let’s not let claims of an “epidemic” or searches for overly simplistic causes interfere with research that has been taking place for decades.

References

1. https://forsoccer.com. 11/12/24

2. https://isport360.com 10/14/25

3. The Complex Origins of Autism: What the Science Shows. (10/13/25) Medscape.
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/complex-origins-autism-what-science-shows-
and-whats-next-2025a1000rdl

4. Is there an Autism Epidemic? (6/6/25) Public Health on Call, Johns Hopkins.
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/is-there-an-autism-epidemic